A small grocery shop gave Muniya Devi a way to earn in her own village while managing her family's daily responsibilities. Support agreed through the Village Development Committee helped turn her proposal into a working business.
Looking for income close to home
Muniya lived in Gajwakura, in Khijuri panchayat near Tisri. At the time of the case study she was 34 and had three children. The family had previously relied on mica picking, but the loss of that income left them facing serious financial pressure.
With limited land, they could grow only a small quantity of seasonal crops and vegetables. Her husband moved to Hyderabad for daily-wage work, and her son later joined him. Muniya continued managing the household in the village, where local employment opportunities were limited.
The family also struggled to access government schemes because of gaps in information and difficulties navigating the process. SPS encouraged Muniya to raise her livelihood needs at the next Village Development Committee meeting.
A proposal shaped by local demand
Muniya proposed opening a grocery shop at home. She explained that the village did not have a shop and that a local outlet could meet a community need while providing income for her family.
The committee considered her circumstances and selected her for start-up support. Finding a suitable space was an initial obstacle. With guidance from the team and discussion with her husband, she arranged a room for the shop despite the family's limited resources.
SPS prepared a list of the required goods and procured them under the organisation's procedures. The support provided materials worth approximately ₹18,000 to help launch the business.
An additional livelihood
At follow-up, Muniya was running the shop and reported earnings of around ₹2,000 a month. The business added a local source of income to a household that had depended heavily on work away from home.
Her story highlights both sides of small-enterprise support: access to start-up materials and the planning, family discussion and practical effort needed to make a business possible.